Back in May 2005, SLAM Magazine ran a featured story on Kirk Hinrich of the Chicago Bulls, where then head coach Scott Skiles said something that’s resonated with me the past few weeks.

“I don’t like to compare him (Hinrich) to other guards in the league,” Skiles started.

“But if you took every team’s best guard, they would be in trouble. So he’s the guy that’s sort of indispensable to what we’re trying to do.”

My how times have changed.

Skiles is in Milwaukee, Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Derrick Rose have since come into the league to challenge that “would be in trouble” assertion, and Hinrich now finds himself being shopped about more often than a five-dollar six-pack from Trader Joe’s.

Then there is Steve Blake.

Much like Kirk, Blake continues to hear his name floated about in trade rumors – even some Portland didn’t even offer to other teams in certain scenarios. And wouldn’t you know, Blake and Hinrich are essentially connected at the hypothetical hip. Because if there is any merit to the recent speculation that has Portland, Chicago and Utah involved in a three-way deal that would bring Hinrich to the Blazers (finally), then Blake is once again the odd man out.

Let’s not forget, the Blazers could have had Hinrich back at the NBA trade deadline in February but failed to pull the trigger. Had him for cheap from what I understand. And as I've said here before, back before the draft management was torn about making a deal for Hinrich.

Perhaps that's changed, or one side won out over the other.

That brings us to the debate today: is Portland better off with Blake or Hinrich?

Many in Portland say that question is a no-brainer. Others have to think about it. Some say neither.

Blake (29 years old) has a year on Hinrich (28), both are 6’3, while Kirk (190 pounds) outweighs Steve (172 pounds) by a few and the two came into the league in the same draft class back in 2003. Yet it’s Hinrich who can boast the better career-numbers (13.9 points, 6.1 assists per game – versus Blake’s 7.6 points and 4.2 assists per game) at this point into their young time in the league. Kirk has postseason experience (4 seasons). So does Blake (3 seasons).

If you watched the playoffs, Hinrich’s defense was amazingly intense against Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics. He helped lead Chicago to 41 wins, before they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs back East. If you paid attention during the regular season, Blake lit it up from beyond the arc aplenty. He helped lead Portland to 54 wins, before they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs out West.

Kevin Pritchard brought Blake back to Portland via free-agency in 2007.

Kevin Pritchard has history with Hinrich; they’re University of Kansas roots run deep.

And finally, Jerryd Bayless is somewhere getting ready for the Las Veags Summer League wondering how keeping Steve Blake or acquiring Kirk Hinrich helps his maturation as the alleged future point guard in Portland.

The kicker to the debate could be this though: one of these guys will likely be in Portland next year and the other won’t.

pic via: thehoopdoctor

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